Could You Have Hepatitis? New Report
01. Oktober 2007 | 03:46 Uhr Kommentieren | Artikel drucken | Artikel
versendenCould You Have Hepatitis? New Report Shows That the Majority of
Europeans With Hepatitis C Remain Undiagnosed

Brussels, Belgium (ots/PRNewswire) - - European Liver Patients Association Urges
People at Risk to get Tested! A report(1) released today by the Eurasian Harm
Reduction Network (EHRN)(i) highlights the significant inconsistencies that
exist in hepatitis C (HCV) diagnosis and treatment across Europe ...
Brussels, Belgium (ots/PRNewswire) -

- European Liver Patients Association Urges People at Risk to get Tested!

A report(1) released today by the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network (EHRN)(i)
highlights the significant inconsistencies that exist in hepatitis C (HCV)
diagnosis and treatment across Europe and beyond. In recognition of World
Hepatitis Awareness Day, patient groups around the globe are united in their
Call for action.

The report indicates that in some European countries it is estimated that more
than 90% of people who are infected with HCV have not been diagnosed (Germany
90%; Poland 98%)(ii). Not only does this put many people at risk of long-term
liver damage, it also means that they may unknowingly transmit the virus to
others.

"It is alarming that in the twenty-first century there are European countries
where up to 98% of people with chronic hepatitis C may not even know they are
infected", says Nadine Piorkowsky, President, European Liver Patients
Association (ELPA). "The peak of hepatitis C related mortality is still to come.

If we want to flatten it, policymakers in Europe will have to act now. We are
therefore calling on the EU and national governments to urgently recognise
hepatitis C as a major public health threat."

Stephen Hughes, Member of European Parliament, agrees: "The European Union has a
crucial role in identifying best practice with regard to hepatitis C screening
in order to address existing health inequalities."

Hepatitis C and, specifically, the under-diagnosis of HCV infection are not
unique to Europe; rather, HCV is a global health issue and the rates of
diagnosis are a problem around the world. In fact, HCV is much more common than
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, with more than four times as many people living
with hepatitis C than with HIV.(2) According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), an estimated 53,700 deaths globally each year are directly attributable
to HCV. The WHO also reports that more than 308,000 deaths annually are likely
to be due to liver cancer caused by HCV and associated with a significant
proportion of the 785,000 deaths due to cirrhosis.(3) This suggests that,
globally, HCV may cause up to 500,000 deaths a year, and possibly even more.
With many undiagnosed cases of HCV, it is likely these numbers will rise in the
near future.

"The EHRN report on HCV prevalence in Europe highlights the need for more
in-depth studies in order to increase awareness and ensure an evidence-based
approach to this disease", says Jeffrey Lazarus, World Health Organization
Regional Office for Europe.

The report shows that the availability and quality of national, regional and
global HCV reporting, resourcing and screening varies dramatically from country
to country. For example, even the official data from the United Kingdom
illustrates that almost two-thirds of estimated HCV cases are undiagnosed
(88,337 diagnosed, 192,663 undiagnosed), which, sadly, is a significantly better
rate of diagnosis to undiagnosis than most countries. In contrast, in Poland the
estimated number of cases in the general population is 750,000, while only
20,000, or 2%, of cases have been diagnosed.

Ms Piorkowsky recognises the importance of awareness campaigns: "Today, on World
Hepatitis Awareness Day, we draw attention to the ongoing needs in the hepatitis
C battle globally, and call on people who may be at risk to get tested!"

France is a clear example of the positive impact public awareness campaigns can
have. Due to government-led campaigns, hepatitis awareness in that country has
increased substantially. Currently, an estimated 56% of those infected know that
they have the infection, compared with 24% in 1994. In contrast, the EHRN report
indicates that in northern Spain, only 16% of people who tested positive for HCV
were aware of their status.

Globally, 180 million people are infected with hepatitis C; many others are
infected and do not know it.(4) Could you be one of them? Get tested.

Risk Factors for Hepatitis C

- Have tattoos or body piercings

- Had a blood transfusion before screening was introduced (in most countries,
before 1992)

- Shared equipment for injecting drugs or cocaine straws/bank notes

- Had medical or dental interventions in countries where equipment is not
adequately sterilised

- Had needle stick injuries (especially emergency services and healthcare
workers)

- Shared a toothbrush or a razor (very low to medium risk)

About World Hepatitis Awareness Day

Now in its fourth year, World Hepatitis Awareness Day, which takes place on 1
October 2007, aims to increase awareness about hepatitis B and C. This year,
ELPA and other international patient organisations are working together to
promote this important educational initiative and encourage those at risk to
"Get Tested'". Alarmingly, many people are unaware that they are infected and
remain undiagnosed. Left untreated, both forms of viral hepatitis can lead to
cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplantation, yet hepatitis B can be
prevented through immunisation and, in many cases, hepatitis C can be cured. The
EHRN report on prevalence of hepatitis C in Europe illustrates the situation of
undiagnosed cases (available at http://www.hepatitisday.info). ELPA has been
supported by unrestricted grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Ltd, Gilead, NOVARTIS and Schering-Plough.

About the European Liver Patients Association (ELPA)

ELPA emerged from a desire amongst European liver patient groups to share their
experiences of the very different approaches to liver disease adopted in
different countries. In June 2004, 13 patient groups from 10 European and
Mediterranean countries created the association. ELPA was formally launched in
Paris on 14 April 2005, during the annual conference of the European Association
for the Study of the Liver (EASL) and now has 20 members from 17 countries.
ELPA's aims are to promote the interests of people with liver disease and, in
particular, to highlight the size of the problem. This involves promoting
awareness and prevention, addressing the low profile of liver disease compared
with other areas of medicine such as heart disease, sharing experience from
successful initiatives and working with professional bodies such as EASL and
with the EU to ensure that treatment and care are harmonised across Europe to
the highest standards.

Further information about hepatitis can be found on:

http://www.hepatitisday.info

http://www.elpa-info.org

For broadcast-standard video supporting this press release, please visit
http://www.thenewsmarket.com/elpa. If you are a first-time user, please take a
moment to register. Questions may be directed to:
journalisthelp@....

References:

(1). Eurasian Harm Reduction NETWORK (EHRN). Comparative analysis of HCV
prevalence across selected countries of Europe and the Mediterranean area; 1
October 2007.

(2). World Health Organization. AIDS Epidemic Update. 2006. (Accessed February
27, 2007, at http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/2006_EpiUpdate_en.pdf.)

(3). World Health Organization. Department of Measurement and Health
Information. (December 2004).

(4). World Health Organization. Initiative for Vaccine Research, Viral Cancers,
Hepatitis C. 2006. (Accessed July 24, 2006, at http://
www.who.int/vaccine_research/diseases/viral_cancers/en/index2.html.)

(i) EHRN: Formerly known as the Central and Eastern European Harm Reduction
Network (CEEHRN)

(ii) EHRN data: Percentage calculated by subtracting diagnosed cases from
estimated number of cases in general population

ots Originaltext: European Liver Patients Association (ELPA) Im Internet
recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact: For more information, please contact: Nadine Piorkowsky, President,
European Liver Patients Association (ELPA), Phone: +49-(0)2225-18476,
elpa-president@....

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New-Report-Shows-That-the-Majority


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